Amusement device



June 19, 1945. J. s. NICHOLAS 2,373,722

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvvgzvrox. James 5. Nxcholas BYWg June 19, 1945. J 5. NICHOLAS AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. James $.Nmcho1ds BY W gem-.0 0

Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE I James S. Nicholas, Akron, Ohio application March 24, 1943, Serial No. 480,284

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a game for amusement. and in particular relates to a device of a type employing playing pieces having distinguishing indicia thereon, such as dice, and operable to arrange the playing pieces with the indicia thereon in different orders or combinations.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is operable unpredictably -to arrange the playing pieces, and wherein is obviated thep'ossibilities of influencing the arrangement of the pieces, as by manipulating or jiggling the device or parts thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, including a visually exposed horizontal surface or board onto which the playing Pieces are to be disposed, which is of such compact structure as to obviate the usual difliculties of supporting the device on an ordinary table or counter so as to have said ex posed surface within convenient view of the players.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dice throwing device of the character described in which the control mechanism is positive in action, as pertaining to the movements of the dice through a complete cycle of operation, whereby is obviated the possibility of dice not being thoroughly shaken.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric projection of dice throwing apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken substantially at 2-2 in Figure 1, illustrating a detail of one of the manually operable controls.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, but with the covers thereof removed for clearness, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 and taken substantially at line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken substantially at line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view of the back end of the apparatus taken substantially at the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a game device for throwing dice. The numeral ll designates a cabinet within which is a rectangular frame H for removably supporting a.

horizontal playing surface or board 12, the upper face of the latter being padded with felt or rubber, or both, as indicated at I 3 (Figure 4) to increase the rebound of dice I4 thrown thereon in a manner to be described later, as well as to minimize noise and to reduce wear on the dice. The side walls of frame Il may be similarly padded. At the rear of the cabinet I0 may be an upright casing I5 providing a compartment l6 which extends above and below the playing surface l2 and which preferably extends to the sides of cabinet It. In the forward wall Ilia of easing I5 may be a rectangular aperture l6b extending above the top of playing surface I2 slightly higher than the dice M, to pemiit passage thereof into the communicating compartment l6, and also extending laterally'to the width of the playing surface l2.

For conveying or ejecting the dice I4 from the playing surface into compartment l6, there may be provided a laterally extending dice-engaging element 01' plate H which is shiftably supported by a bar l8, one end of which is slidable along a track l9 at one side of frame H, and the other end of which is secured to a, block 20 slidable on a rod 2| fixedly mounted longitudinally of the cabinet in a. compartment Illa provided between the sidewall of frame I I and the outer sidewall of the cabinet. The block 20 is prevented from turning on rod 2| by sliding engagement thereof with the inner faces of said sidewalls. An operative handle 22 for sliding the plate I 1 toward and from the aperture l6b is fixed on a pin 23 extending upwardly on block 20, through a slot 24 in a cover 25 removably secured to the cabinet, a glass window 26 being provided in the cover for viewing the playing surface I2. Element ll may be padded at Ila for reasons stated above. Rearward movement of handle 22 to position of block 20 as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 5 moves element I! to the corresponding chaindotted position thereof shown in Figure 4, to eject the dice I 4 into compartment l6, as indicated in chain-dotted lines at A in Figure 4.

During the dice throwing step in the cycle operation of the machine, which step will be described later, some of the dice will have a tendency to bounce toward aperture lGb. To prevent these dice from thus returning to compartment ii, there may be provided a normally closed closure 28 supported by a suitably hinged rod 29 having an integral arm 30 extending downwardly into compartment la, the lower end of this arm having connected thereto a chain, cable, or like flexible element 3| which is suitably guided to the front, end of cabinet I around a pulley 32, the other end of element 3| being connected rearwardly through a tension spring 33, to a slide bar- 34 longitudinally slidable in a guide channel 36. Bar 34 may be provided with an upward extension 36 which is engageable by bar l8 as handle 22 is pushed rearwardly as previously described, whereby arm is raised to lift closure 28 as said bar I! moves toward the previously described dice-ejecting position. The return or forward movement of block 20, conversely moves closure 28 to the normally closed position thereof. A shoulder a limits forward movement of slide bar 34.

Associated with compartment l6 may be a dicedefiecting and throwing chute 31 having a discharge opening 38 communicating with the playing surface l2, slightly above the same, substantially as best shown in Figure 4. Vertically staggered bafiles 39, 39 may be provided in chute for thoroughly mixing the dice H, the lowermost baille being directed to deflect the dice forwardly onto playing surface l2.

For conveying the dice I4 from compartment I6 to the top of chute 31 there may be provided an elevator or platform 40 having a bottom plate 40a, and upwardly extending side and rear diceretaining flanges 40b, 40b, and 400, respectively, the elevator in the present instance being normally held in the raised position shown in full lines in Figure 4, slightly above the top edge of wall 16a which communicates with the top of chute 31. For maintaining the elevator in normally raised position and for lowering andraising the same a block 4|, secured to back flange 400 is slidably retained as by a plate 4la in a vertical slot 42 in the back wall 5b of casing l5 and a flexible element 43 is suitably connected at one end to plate 4la (see Figure 6) and at the other end thereof to the slide block 20 (see Figure 5), through suitable guide pulleys indicated at 44, 45, and 46. The previously described rearward dice-ejecting movement of block 20 causes the elevator to be lowered into a recess 41 in the floor 48 of compartment l6, the flanges 40b, 46b, being below said floor in this position as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 4.

Pivoted at 49 on the forward edge of bottom plate 40a of elevator 46 may be a dice-receiving plate 50 which normally rests in horizontal position against said bottom plate. Secured to plate 50 may be a pin 5| which extends freely through a vertical slot 52 in the rear wall |6c of casing I5, said pin being engageable to raise plate 50 to inclined position by means of a trip lever 53 pivoted to a fixed pivot at 54. Lever 53 may be actuated against the yielding action of springs 55, by means of a flexible element 56 connected at one end to an extension 530. of the lever, said flexible element being extended through suitable guide pulleys 51, 66, 59, and 60, to be'connected at its other end to a secondary operating button or pin 6| which is vertically shiftabie (against the yielding action of said springs and 55a) in a frame 62 mounted in the forward end of cabinet in (see Figure 2). Stop pins 63 and 64 limit swinging movement of trip lever 53 in opposite directions. By means of this arrangement button 6| is adapted to be yieldingly depressed while elevator 40 is in the up position to operate trip lever 53 to engage pin 5|, thereby to swing plate 50 to inclined position (see chain-dotted lines in Figure 4) to eject dice l4 thereon into chute 31, through which they fall by gravity and are thrown onto playing surface I2.

For gathering the dice l2, ejected into compartment l6 from playing surface 13, from points along the floor 46 of said compartment to be receivedon the elevator 40, a pair of oppositely disposed blocks 66 and 61 may be mounted in compartment l6 to be slidable from positions best illustrated in full lines in Figure 7, to positions illustrated therein in chain-dotted lines, in synchronism with the rearward and returning movements of handle 22 and associated parts, thereby to gather dice, which may be strewn along said floorof the compartment onto the elevator, while the latter is in the down position (see Figure 7).

The blocks 66, 61 may be actuated as described by means of mechanism illustrated in Figure 3, wherein relatively long, oppositely disposed arms 63, 69 are pivoted on the underside of playing surface I2 to fixed pins at 10, 10, the free ends of said arms being slidably engaged with cam surfaces in recesses in the blocks 66 and 61!. Pivotally connecting arms 68 and 69 are toggle links 12 and 13, the link 13 having pivoted thereto at 14 a lever arm 15 which is pivoted to a fixed pin I6, tension springs 11 connecting an extension We of arm 15 normally yieldingly holding the arms 68 and 69 in the outer positions thereof. Pivotally connecting an extension 1% at 18 is a linlr 19 which is pivoted at to an arm at connected to a fixed pivot 92 on a block 83 which acts as a stop for the arm 69. The arm Bl may have an extension 8la which projects into conipartment Illa, in the path of a weighted arm or drag link 85 pivoted at 86 to block 20 (see Figure 5); this drag link being arranged so as to be dragged ineflectively over extension ill upon rearward movement of the block 20, and therefore without having effect on blocks 66 and Si. Upon return oriforward movement of block Ell an upturned portion 85a on drag link 85 is arranged to engage extension 8la at a point which is effective just prior to actuation of flexible element 43 to raise the elevator 40, whereby the arms 66 and 69 are moved inwardly of each other to move blocks 66 and 61 inwardly, as previously described. Immediately upon the drag link 35 passing over extension 8la the blocks 66 and iii are returned to normal inoperative position b the action of springs 11 on the associated link mechanism (see Figure 3).

A suitable cover 81 is provided to enclose the portions of casing l5 to which ready access is desirable and this cover may be releasably locked in position by locking means indicated at 86.

In the operation of the game device described above the dice l4, [4 will normally be on playing surface l2, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The player or operator first grasps handle 22 and urges the same rearwardly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5 to the chain-dotted position of block 20 therein. With this initial movement drag-link 65 passes over lever extension 6 is without effect, and the elevator 46 through flexible element 43 is lowered to the chain-dotted position thereof shown in Figures 4 and '7. As block 20 approaches the end of this rearward movement, the bar l8 engages projection 36 of slide bar 34 and through flexible element 3! and arm 30 raises closure 29 to permit ejector plate H to move up to aperture l6b to eject or convey dice l4 therethrough into chamber l6, some of the dice of course frequently falling onto conveyor 49.

The player next reverses the handle 22 toward its normal or inoperative position. During this reverse movement the drag link 85 momentarily engages lever extension 8 la and, through the link mechanism shown in Figure 3, moves arms 88 and N inwardly and outwardly with relatively quick action to gather stray dice along the floor ll of compartment 16 into conveyor ll. When lever extension Ola is released the requisite lost motion play in flexible element 43 will have been taken up and continued reverse movement of block 20 raises elevator 40 to its upper position (see Figure 4). Toward the end of this reverse movement the closure drops to close aperture lib.

The player now presses button 6! (see Figures 1, 2, and 3) which, through flexible element '56, trip lever 53, and pin 84 swings plate SI to in clined position to eject the dice l4 therefrom into chute 31. On falling by gravity through the chute the dice ll are thoroughly deflected by the baiiles 39 and thrown forwardly onto playing surface I: in haphazard manner.

By means of the above described same device thorough mixing of the dice is assured, there clearly being no possibility of manipulation by the player or operator for the purpose of regulating or controlling the order in which the dice will roll onto the playing surface. Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening communicating therewith, means operable to convey the playing pieces from said playing surface to discharge the same into said chute, and baflle elements in said chute for deflecting the playing pieces passed therethrough from said conveyor means whereby the playing pieces are discharged through said discharge opening by gravity and onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening communicating therewith, a compartment adjacent said chute, means shiftable in one direction to convey the playing p eces from said playing 'surface into said compartment, conveyor means operable by reverse movement of said shiftable means for conveying the playing pieces into said chute, and baflle elements in said chute for defleeting the playing pieces passed therethrough from said conveyor means whereby the playing pieces are discharged through said discharge opening onto said playi surface in haphazard manner.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening communicating therewith, said discharge opening being above said playing surface, means operable to convey the playing pieces from said playing surface to discharge the same into said chute, and means in said chute for deflecting the laying pieces passed therethrough from said conveyor means whereby the playing pieces are discharged through said discharge opening outwardly onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening communicating therewith, said discharge opening being above said playing surface. and means operable to convey the playing pieces from said playing surface to and to discharge the same into said chute, whereby the playing pieces are directed downwardly through said chute and through the discharge opening thereof onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

5. A game device of the class described comprising a cabinet, a playing surface in said cabinet for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a' discharge opening communicating therewith. a compartment in said cabinet adjacent said chute and having an aperture commuv nicating with said playing surface, means shiftable in one direction for shifting the playing pieces from said playing surface into said compartment, conveyor means operable by reverse movement of said shiftable means for conveying the playing pieces received in said compartment to said chute, and trip means releasable to discharge the playing pieces from said conveyor means into said chute, said chute having baflles therein for deflecting the playing pieces passing therethrough whereby they are discharged through said discharge opening onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

6. A game device of the class described comprising a cabinet, at playing surface in said cabinet for receiving playing pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening communicating therewith, a compartment in said cabinet adjacent said chute and having an aperture communicating with said playing surface, means shiftable in one direction for shifting the playing pieces from said playing surface into said compartment, conveyor means for conveying the playing pieces received in said compartment to said chute, and trip means releasable to discharge the playing pieces from said conveyor means into said chute whereby the playing pieces are discharged through said discharge opening onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a cabinet having a playing surface therein, an apertured wall at one end of said playing surface, one or more playing pieces on said playing surface, an element extending across said playing surface and shiftable toward and from said aperture to engage the playing pieces, means operable to shift said element toward said aperture for engaging and moving said playin pieces to be discharged through the aperture, and means for returning the playing pieces delivered through said aperture to said playing surface.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a cabinet having a playing surface therein, an apertured wall at one end of said playing surface, one or more playing pieceson said playing surface, an element extending across said playing surface and shiftable toward and from said aperture to engage the playing pieces, means operable to shift said element toward said aperture for engaging and moving said playing pieces to be discharged through the aperture, and means for returning the playing pieces delivered through ture to engage the-playing pieces, means operable to shift said element toward said aperture for engaging and moving said playing pieceslto be discharged through the aperture, a closure normally closing said aperture, means operable by movement of said shiftable element toward and from said aperture for opening and closing said closure respectively, and means for returning the playing pieces delivered through said aperture to said playing surface.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a cabinet having a playing surface therein, an apertured wall at one end of said playing surface, one or more playing pieces on said playing surface, shiftable means operable to eject said playing pieces from said playing surface through said aperture, a compartment for receiving the playing pieces ejected through said aperture, conveyor means in said compartment, a member or members in said compartment shiftable by operation of said shiftable means to gather the playing pieces onto said conveyor means, and means operable by continued operation of said shiftable means for operating said conveyor means to return said playing pieces 'onto said playing surface.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a cabinet having a playing surface, an apertured wall at one end of said playing surface, one or more playing pieces on said playing surface, a compartment in said cabinet adjacent said aperture, a deflecting device associated with said compartment and having a discharge end in communication with said playing surface, means for ejecting said playing pieces from said playing surface into said compartment through said aperture, means for shifting said playing pieces from said compartment to said playing surface through said deflecting device whereby the playing pieces are returned to the playing surface in haphazard manner, and closure means for said aperture operable in synchronism with said shifting means to maintain the aperture closed when said playing pieces are returning to said playing surface.

12. Apparatusof the class described comprising a playing surface, one or'inore playing pieces adapted to be played on said playing surface, means for ejecting said playi pieces from said playing surface, and means operable in synchronism with said ejecting means for returning the elected playing pieces to said playing surface, said return means including an elevator for receiving the ejected playing pieces and being movable to a raised position above said playing surface, means operable in synchronism with said ejecting means for raising said elevator, deflecting means mounted in association with said elevator and above said playing surface for receiving the playing pieces and deflecting same downwardly onto the playing surface, and trip means operable in the elevated position of said elevator for so discharging said playing pieces therefrom into said deflecting means.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface, one or more playing pieces adapted to be played on said playing surface,

means for ejecting said playing pieces from said playing surface, and means operable in synchronism with said ejectin means for returning the ejected playing pieces to said playing surface, said return means including an elevator for receiving the ejected playing pieces and being movable to a raised position above said' playing surface, means for raising said elevator, means mounted in association with said elevator and above said playing surface for receiving the playing pieces and deflecting same downwardly onto the playing surface, and trip means operable in the elevated position of said elevator for so discharging said playing pieces therefrom into said deflecting means.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a playing surface for receiving a playing piece or pieces thereon, a chute mounted in association with said playing surface and having a discharge opening at the bottom thereof communicating with said playing surface, said discharge opening being above said playing surface, and baflle elements on opposite sides of the chute and arranged in vertically staggered relation, said battle elements having inclined surfaces for defleeting playing pieces passed downwardly through thechute, the lowermost of said baiile elements having its inclined surface directed toward said discharge opening, whereby the playing pieces are discharged through the discharge opening outwardly onto said playing surface in haphazard manner.

. JAMES S. NICHOLAS. 

